Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545039
RESEARCHERS have produced the first comprehensive, anno- tated checklist of vascular plants of the Comino archipelago, doc- umenting 490 species and re- vealing significant biodiversity, as well as mounting pressures on the protected island. The study, based on historical botanical records dating back to the mid-19th century alongside new field surveys conducted be- tween 2008 and 2025, compiled 328 verified observations. Of these observations, 79 species are newly recorded for Comino, while two are documented for the first time on the Maltese is- lands. The paper is entitled: The vas- cular flora of the Comino ar- chipelago (Maltese Islands) by Stephen Mifsud, Daniel Pavon, Frédéric Médail and published on ScienceDirect. The paper states that Comino is a surprisingly rich botanical site, despite its small size and intense human activity. "The island's flora includes 58 strictly and legally protected species, 21 endemic species, and multiple taxa considered rare or threat- ened within the Maltese archi- pelago. Among the notable spe- cies listed are Euphorbia peplis, Hornungia procumbens, and Malva setigera, all of which are of conservation concern in the region." The report also found that ap- proximately 160 species previ- ously recorded on Comino have not been observed in recent dec- ades, which suggests substantial local losses in plant diversity over time. SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY 22 MAY 2026 • ISSUE 097 • PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY gozotoday €1.00 Researchers record 79 new plant species in Comino CPD unveils €7 million investment in emergency vehicles for Malta and Gozo CONTINUES PAGE 3 LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt THE Civil Protection Depart- ment has expanded its emer- gency response capabilities through an investment of more than €7 million in new vehicles equipped with advanced tech- nology not previously available in Malta and Gozo. The investment includes specialised vehicles for haz- ardous materials incidents and industrial firefighting op- erations, with the government saying the move is aimed at ensuring Malta and Gozo re- main prepared for emergen- cies and complex operational challenges. LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUES PAGE 3 Study based on historical botanical records dating back to the mid-19th century, alongside new field surveys conducted between 2008 and 2025, compiled 328 verified observations